Actress Delnaaz Irani, who is currently winning hearts with her performance in Chumbak on Netflix, has always been vocal about enjoying the simple experiences in life. As World Tourism Day is observed on September 27, she shares her thoughts on what makes a place truly worth visiting. For Delnaaz, travelling is not just about visiting famous landmarks or ticking destinations off a list. It is about the people, food, culture and stories that make a place truly memorable.
Talking about what makes a destination worth visiting, Delnaaz says, “For me, it’s always the people and the food! Landmarks are beautiful for photos, but it’s the warmth of the locals and the stories they share that give a place its soul. When you sit down, talk to the residents, and eat their traditional food, that’s when you truly experience a destination. A place becomes worth visiting when it makes you feel like you belong, even if you’re thousands of miles away from home.”
She also feels that tourism can have a positive impact on local communities when it is handled responsibly. According to her, travellers need to be more conscious about the way they explore new places. “Yes, absolutely, but it requires a very conscious balance. Tourism can bring incredible economic growth, keep dying local arts alive, and create jobs. But we have to treat the places we visit like we treat our own homes. The moment tourism turns into commercial exploitation, the magic dies. If we focus on supporting local businesses instead of massive commercial chains, we can lift communities up without destroying their roots,” she shares.
For Delnaaz, respecting the local culture should be one of the most important responsibilities of every traveller. She says, “As travellers, our biggest responsibility is respect. We are guests in someone else’s home. You cannot enter a new place and demand that things work exactly the way they do in your city. Respect the local dress codes, respect their traditions, clean up after yourself, and be kind. Leave a place with good memories, not footprints of trash or disrespect.”
The actress also believes that social media has changed the way people travel. While it has made it easier to discover new destinations, she feels it has also taken away from the actual experience. “It’s a bit of both, but honestly, it has made things a bit worse for the actual experience. The good part is that we discover gorgeous, hidden corners of the world we never knew existed. The bad part? People are so busy trying to capture the perfect reel or photo for Instagram that they forget to actually look at the view with their own eyes! We are travelling to check off ‘aesthetic boxes’ rather than to disconnect and absorb the vibes,” she says.
When asked whether she would prefer an iconic tourist destination or an unexplored local gem, Delnaaz chooses the latter. “I would choose an unexplored local gem any day! There is a unique thrill in going somewhere that isn’t crowded with tourists. As a Parsi, I love exploring old heritage towns, quiet coastal villages, and places with rich history that haven’t been commercialised yet. You get an authentic, peaceful experience, and you actually get to interact with the culture instead of just fighting through a crowd for a selfie,” she says.
She also points out that travellers need to move away from the habit of using disposable items while travelling. “The ‘disposable’ mindset needs to go. The sheer amount of plastic water bottles, single-use cutlery, and trash that tourists leave behind is heartbreaking. We need to build the habit of carrying our own reusable bottles and bags. True luxury isn’t about generating waste for convenience; it’s about preserving the beauty of the planet for the next generation,” Delnaaz concludes.